Pooled procurement in pandemic preparedness and response: leveraging the PAHO Revolving Funds to strengthen health equity and resilience

Abstract

Pandemic preparedness and response (PPR) has become a priority to strengthen national and economic security – and the PAHO Region is no exception. Given that many gaps in health security center on continuous access to lifesaving health technologies, PAHO’s Revolving Funds – composed of the Strategic Fund for Essential Medicines and Supplies (SF) and the Revolving Fund for Access to Vaccines (RF) – can be leveraged as vital mechanisms and useful approaches to strengthen health system resilience and achieve health equity. This 2-page brief offers important insights for how PAHO’s pooled procurement mechanisms can address critical PPR gaps through the following recent, high-profile initiatives in health security: 1) tIntergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB), 2) Working Group on International Health Regulations Reform (WGIHR), 3) Financial Intermediary Fund for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (FIF).